Apple Valley Altercation Leads to Attempted Murder Arrests

APPLE VALLEY:(VVNG.com)- In the early morning hour of September 13th, a verbal altercation ensued between two adult male victims and a 15-year-old male in the parking lot of Arco ampm located on Highway 18 and Rancherias Road in Apple Valley. As the victims drove away from the gas station they were followed by 22-year-old suspect Mark Rojas from Apple Valley, who was driving an early model white Acura Integra with the 15-year-old juvenile suspect passenger.

After a short pursuit, both vehicles ended up in the 21000 block of Otoe Road, where the 15-year-old suspect produced a .22 caliber rifle and began firing at the victim’s vehicle shattering the window. The first round struck the rear window of the victim’s vehicle, shattering the window. The round continued it’s trajectory though the vehicle and struck the 32-year-old victim on the bridge of his nose. The 15-year-old suspect fired an additional two rounds at the victim’s vehicle, with the second round striking the driver’s door.

Both vehicles fled the location at a high rate of speed, the suspect fled in a southeast direction from the shooting scene. At 1:54 a.m. the victims drove to their residence where the then notified the sheriff’s department of the shooting. The injuries sustained were determined to be not life threatening and the victim refused medical treatment.

After further investigation both suspects Mark Rojas and the 15-year-old juvenile were located and arrested on Tuesday, September 16th. Mark Rojas was booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto. The 15-year-old juvenile suspect was booked into juvenile hall for the charges of attempted murder.